Having only recently heard Michelangeli's DG (Originals) disk of the
Op.10 Balladen of Brahms, Schubert's D537, and LvB's sonata Op.7, I
wonder if others more attuned to the pianistic world, would care to
comment on this high profile pianist, and possibly suggest the best
recordings that ABM has made.

Fwiw, I found that ABM's Ballades of sufficient quality (performance
wise) that I feel invited to want to explore them again. Precision, a
depth that is hiding beneath the surface is there, and the choice of the
LvB sonata is well chosen, and one of the sonatas of Ludwig that
actually appeals very much to these ears, and immaculately played to
boot. Cannot say I enjoyed his Schubert, more on account of the music as
much as anything.

Any comments welcome?

Ray (Dawg) Hall, Taree

On Fri, 30 Nov 2007 15:05:14 +1100, TareeDawg bigpond.com>
wrote:

"TareeDawg" bigpond.com> wrote...

If I had to pick just two discs, that would be his Chopin recital for DGG
(Ballade No. 1, Scherzo No. 2, Prélude Op. 45, ten Mazurkas) and the Warsaw
recital from 1955 on Altara (Bach/Busoni Chaconne, Brahms
Paganini-Variations, Schumann Piano Concerto). The Chopin recital stands out
for more or less the reasons you liked his Brahms/Beethoven (razor-sharp
precision and polish, yet with depth), while the Altara release, although in
atrocious sound, shows what an exciting pianist Michelangeli was when
playing staples of his repertoire live.

M. A.

On Nov 30, 3:13 am, "M. A." server.com> wrote:

"JohnGavin" comcast.net> wrote...

M. A. wrote:

If you like your Debussy played underwater ...

On Nov 29, 11:05 pm, TareeDawg bigpond.com> wrote:

Let's see. The Ravel-Rachmaninov piano concertos on EMI, of course.
The London 1957 recital on Testament (including Schumann Carnaval and
Chopin Ballade 1). The Debussy recital on DG (Images and Children's...

The only recording where I can't think of anyone better is the
Rachmaninov 4th, and that's only because the composer is in very old
sound. It's a great recording, no doubt at all.

I prefer Katchen in the Ravel (and like others as well, Bernstein,
Argerich, Collard etc) - I think this side of the pairing has been
overrated.

But yes, I do listen to his Debussy as one of many I like.

Chopin and the rest..... well, I listen to Michelangeli every once in
a while, but I wouldn't say he was a great Chopin pianist.

I prefer him to Pollini, but don't really listen to either. No soul,
really. Like marble - cold and elegant.

On Nov 30, 4:33 pm, Wayne Reimer pacbell.net> wrote:

Ah, so growing old does have its rewards !!

Now, if I can just listen to all the ABM's before the dementia sets
in !

Regards, Rugby

On Nov 30, 4:47�pm, Rugby gmail.com> wrote:

Remember not to forget the dvd's.

****Val